Rotary engine



- Jan. 5, 1932. A. F. BEALS ET AL ROTARY ENGINE Filed Oct. 24. 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet i A IN VEN TOR5 ATTORNEY Jan. 5, 1932. A. F. BEALS ET AL 1,839,638

ROTARY ENGINE Filed Oct. 24. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNEY Jan. 5, 1932.

A. F BEALS ET AL ROTARY ENGINE Filed Oct. 24, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 II. 4 S

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A TTORNEY Patented Jan. 5, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALBERT F. BEALS, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, AND ELMER- E. FUDGE AND FREDERICK A. PUDGE, OF ULYSSES, KANSAS, ASSIGNORS TO UNIVERSAL ROTARY MOTORS (10., OF ULYSSES, KANSAS, A CORPORATION OF KANSAS ROTARY ENGINE Application filed October 24, 1929. Serial No. 402,022.

Our invention relates to internal combustion engines and more particularly to rotary type engines, and has for its principal objects to simplify the construction and operation of a power plant of this character, to facilitate adjustment of the degree of compression for different fuels, and to compensate for Wear in the various parts of the engine.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, we have provided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of an engine embodying our invention, a compression controllin ring section and cover plate being shown in disassembled relation to the engine.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the engine rotor.

Fig. 3 is a. perspective View of the rotor and housing members in disassembled condition.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the engine, the section through the rotor being taken on the line 4.4:, Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an elevation of a housing member;

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of a piston and a piston head removed from the piston assembly.

Fig. 7 is a similar view in longitudinal section.

Referring in detail to the drawings 1 and 2 designate complementary housing members includin disk-like bottoms or end Walls 3 and ring-like rims 4 having peripheral radial annular flanges 5 on their inner edges forming mating rings apertured to receive bolts for securing the members together to comprise a closed case.

The case is fixedly mounted on a suitable support 6 having a recess 7 forming a seat and pairs of spaced arms 8 bolted to the rings 5. A shaft 9 extends through axial journal openings 10 in the housing members.

A rotor 11 keyed to the shaft and rotatable in the case and between the housing members is adapted to rotate the shaft as presently described.

The rotor comprises a disk or web having a hub portion 12 and a series of concentric annular flanges or rings 13, 14 and 15 projecting from each face, leaving a narrow outer central rim portion 16 operating in an annular groove 17 formed by registering recesses Iion the inner peripheries of the housing memers.

The housing members are provided with annular grooves 18, 19 and 20 for receiving the corresponding flanges 13, 14 and 15 of the rotor, the annular projecting flanges or walls 21 and 22 between the grooves being in turn received by the annular chambers or g ooves defined by the flanges of the rotor. The rims 4 comprise the outer walls of the outer grooves 20.

The inner grooves of the housing members also form hubs 23 comprising journals in which the inner ring flanges of the rotor rotate.

Slightly offset through openings 24: and 25 are provided in the rotor web between the I flanges 1314 and 1 i15 respectively, for

receiving pistons 26 and 27, and the walls 21 and 22 of the housing members have circumferentially tapered edges or faces forming cam tracks for the pistons.

The tapered wall faces form the floors of corresponding inner and outer chambers 28 and 29 on each side of the rotor web, of which adjacent flanges of the rotor are the sides, and the portions of the web of the rotor between said flanges are the tops. The pistons reciprocate in the rotor back and forth, into and out of complementary chambers.

The tapered faces of the walls in one housing member are formed and located complementarily to the faces of the walls in the other member, so that opposite ends of the pistons are constantly slidingly engaged with the faces of opposed walls, and a piston will have one end located at the high point of one wall when its opposite end is located at the low point of the opposed wall.

Plates 30 and 31 countersunk in recesses 32 in the housing Walls 21 and 22 and flush with the faces of the walls define the high points thereof, and the faces taper from each side of a plate to low points 33 and 34 diametrically opposite the plates. Upstanding bosses 35 projecting centrally from the floors of the recesses extend in central openings in the walls.

The high points of the walls 21 are offset circumferentially from the high points of the walls 22 to an extent and for a purpose presently described.

Pairs of notches or slots 36 and 37, and 38 and 39 are formed in the adjacent peripheries of adjacent rotor flanges at the edges of the web openings 24 and 25 to provide additional guides for the pistons. The adjacent edges of the slots in the flange 14 extend in overlapping relation so that the edge portion of one piston moves in a path overlying the ath of the edge portion of the other piston or a purpose presently disclosed.

Fuel is delivered from supply pipes 40 through inlet ports 41 in each housing member wall 21 to the inner chambers 28 and passes through a port 42 in the rotor to the outer chambers 29 where it is ignited by spark plugs 43 countersunk in recesses in the tracks, and exhausts through outlet ports 44 in the housing member walls 22 into exhaust conduits 45.

The spark plugs are suitably connected with sources of electrical energy through conductors extending exteriorly of the housing members. The port 42 is located in the web of the rotor in communication with the slots 37 and 38 on opposite sides of the flanges 13 of the rotor.

The rotor is adapted to move in anticlockwise direction over a housing member positioned as in Fig. 5 which will be referred to as the member 2. The inlet and outlet ports extend in the housing walls parallel with the axis of the housing members, and adjacent the high points of the walls.

The inlet ports are located in front of the plates 30 with reference to the direction of travel of the inner pistons.

An inner piston moving downwardly on the track passes an inlet port shortly after it has passed the high point of the wall and draws fuel into the gradually enlarged chamber ortion of which the moving piston is the ront wall.

The piston advances against fuel previously admitted to the chamber to compress the same, and the compressed fuel is discharged through the port 42 in the rotor .communicating with the slots 37 and 38 into the outer chamber of the engine half, the two pistons controlling the flow of compressed gas as presently described.

Each piston comprises a body 46 havingopposite end recesses 47 and slots or sockets 48 in the bottoms of the recesses to receive the tongues 49 of spring-pressed piston heads 50 having outer end faces 51 slidingly and sealingly engaging the opposed tapered faces of housing walls 21 and 22.

Control of the transfer of compressed gas from the inner chambers to the outer champlates to anchor the same to the hers is effected through valves operated by and preferably integral with the pistons, including lateral wings 460. and 46b of the pistons moving in the slots 36 and 37 of the rotor flange 14. The pistons have grooves or notches forming faces 46' spaced from the side walls of the slots to provide assages for compressed gas moving from t e inner chambers to the outer chambers.

The pistons and compressed gas port are located in the rotor flanges to admit gas to the outer chamber shortly after the outer piston has passed the ignition element, and

* to close the port with relative promptness to tform explosion portions of the outer chamers.

The ignition elements are located slightly in front of the plates forming the high points of the outer housing member walls 22 with reference to the direction of travel of the outer piston, and substantially half wa between the circumferentially offset high points of the walls 21 and 22.

Referring to one side of the engine, as illustrated in Fig. 5, andto the port 42 in the rotor as shown in Fig. 4, the inner piston moving on the tapered track of the wall 21 begins to uncover the port as the piston passes the high point of the wall 22 and is still spaced from the high point of the wall 21 The outer piston is entirely withdrawn into the opposite housing member, due to the fact that it is riding on the high point of the wall 22, and thus is withdrawn from the port at the moment when the inner piston enters the area wherein it opens the port.

Under continued movement of the rotor, the outer piston moves from the high point of the wall 22 along its downwardly tapering track, tending to develop a vacuum in the outer chamber, and the inner piston moves upwardly toward the high point of the wall 21. The outer piston begins to cover the port substantially coincidentally with the movement of the inner piston across the port, and has completely covered the port by the time it has reached a position substantially opposite the high point of the wall 21.

The entire area of the port is therefore never made available in the application of the invention herein described.

An explosion chamber portion is thus formed, and the ignition element is actuated at the moment the port-closing position of the outer piston above described is reached, to explode the compressed gas and develop pressure against the outer piston for rotating the rotor and shaft and effecting compression of fuel in the inner chamber.

Products of combustion resulting from one explosion are retained in the outer chamber until the outer piston passes the outlet port, which as clearly shown in Fig. 5 is located on the opposite side of the high point of the wall 22 from the ignition element, and adjacent said high point. When the piston passes the high point it begins to press on the products of combustion to discharge the same through the outlet port.

In the webs or bottoms of the housing members 1 and 2 are arcuately arranged series of openings 52 extending through the wall 21. -Adjustable plates 53 are located in arcuate recesses 54: and adapted to be retained in selected. spaced relation with the bottoms of the recesses to form pressure relief chambers for adjusting the extent of compression of gas in the inner chambers by the inner piston.

Cover plates 55 are fixed to the outer faces of the housing members by bolts 56, and adjusting screws 57 mounted in the covers form stops for limiting the spacing of the plates 53 from the bottoms of the recesses.

The two halves of the engine, each including a housing member and a half of the rotor are complementary, the direction of 1nclination of tracks in one half being opposite to the direction of inclination of tracks in the other half, and the spark plugs and outlet ports oppositely related to high points in the walls 22, to effect complementary relation when the members are assembled. The pistons or valves operate similarly in each housing member, the pistons however, moving alternately into and out of the corresponding chambers of the two members.

Grooves 58 areformed in the end edge faces of the rotor flanges to provide seats for split piston rings 59 adapted to engage the inner faces of the housing disks and seal the inner chamber of each engine half from the outer chamber thereof. Springs 60 comprising preferably resilient straps bent into corrugated form are mounted in the bottoms of the grooves to hold the rings against the faces of the housing members.

tesilient sealing rings 61 are mounted in grooves in the peripheries of housing member walls to bear against the flanges of the rotor and adapted respectively to expand and contract against the respective faces of the flanges with which they are engaged.

The pistons are preferably provided with bearing face plates 62 .inset in the outer surfaces of the portions of the pistons operating in the slots 37 and 39.

Referring to Fig. 2 illustrating the rotor rotating in clockwise direction, plates 63 are mounted against the front face of the inner piston with reference to the direction of travel of the piston and on the rear surface of the outer piston.

The heads 50 have arcuate faces formed conformably to the positions of the head on the portions of the cam tracks during movement of the heads thereover. Bear and front face portions 64 and 65 diverge inwardly toward the tongues from rib-like edges 011 transverse median lines on the faces. The

two face portions of a head are formed originally as they would be formed if a flat head were moved repeatedly over an abrading surface having the contour of the cam track.

In using apparatus constructed as described, vaporized and mixed fuel is delivered simultaneously to the inner chambers of the engine and initial rotative movement is conferred by any usual means, involving rotation of the shaft. Since the operation of one half is similar to the operation of the other half, one cycle of operation of one side of the invention will first be described.

The inlet fuel is compressed in the inner chamber by reduction of the volume of the n chamber due to movement of the inner piston from the high point of-the wall 21 on the track toward said high point.

It is apparent that when the piston is at the high point the chamber has its maximum capacity and that the piston gradually reduces the capacity of the chamber While moving therethrough.

When the inner piston reaches a position substantially opposite the high point of the wall 22, the outer piston has been moved by the rotor simultaneously, and the port in the rotor is in communication with the entrance end of the outer chamber. As the inner piston continues to move on the inner track it uncovers the port and the compressed gas moves into the outer chamber.

The outer piston moves circularly in fixed relation with the inner piston and is sufficiently withdrawn when it passes the plate to leave the port open, for permitting movement of the compressed gas into the outer chamber.

Attention is called to the fact that the gas moves from the inner chamber in front of the advancing body of the inner piston, and moves into the outer chamber rearwardly of the body of the outer piston.

\Vhen the outer piston has moved to port closing position, and is passing a point spaced a relatively short distance in front of the spark plug, the spark is delivered, effecting explosion of the gas. Expansion of the gas effects the propulsion of the piston in the outer chamber, the piston transmitting the motion of the rotor and the shaft.

The expanding gas continues to operate on the outer piston until the piston has passed the outlet port 44 whereupon the gas is permitted to escape through the port, being pushed out on the next revolution of the outer piston.

Attention is called to the maintenance of a steady torque of power due to the fact that the volume of the outer chamber increases gradually and the effective area of the outer piston upon which the expanding gas operates increases proportionately to increase in chamber volume. The life of the piston is also prolonged owing to the fact that it reciprocates more slowly to accomplish the same result than would be the case. if the proportionate changes described were not provided for.

The inner piston operates similarly to the outer piston, and in exact relation therewith.

The operation of the pistons in the other half of the engine is similar to that of the pistons in the engine portions just described, the inner piston being, however, at a low point on the inner wall of the second half when the inner piston of the first half is at its high point, and the outer piston is substantially at the end of its propulsion stroke when the outer piston of the first half is receiving the propelling influence of the gas exploded in the first described outer chamber.

Attention is further called to the fact tha the pistons which form and change the volumes of the chambers and receive the propelling influence and efiect compression of the gas have valves attached thereto and formed integrally therewith for controlling the transfer of compressed gas to the explosion chambers. The inlet and outlet ports are open, requiring no valves, the inner piston drawing gas into the inner chambers and the outer piston driving exhaust gases from the outer chambers. I

The extent of compression of gas in the inner chambers may be varied by adjusting the arcuate plates for varying the volume of the relief chambers communicating with the inner chambers, part of the gas that is being compressed moving through the ports 52 ahead of the piston into the chambers 54, whereby only a part of the volume of gas originally contained by the inner chambers is eventually compressed and delivered to the outer chambers. The volume of compressed gas delivered is sufficient to provide for expansion to actuate the outer piston and motor, and for outlet of the expanded volume at atmospheric pressure. The plates 53 may be set tightlyenough against the bottoms of recesses 54 to close the ports 52 and'prevent bypassage of any compressed gas to the rear of the piston, and are normally spaced slightly from the ports to permit small quantities of gas to be bypassed, while permitting a substantial portion of the volume of gas in the inner chambers to be gompressed and delivered to the outer chamers.

When the engine is used as a Diesel type of motor an injector fitting may be mounted in the screw-threaded opening ordinarily receiving the spark plug.'- The pressure relief elements may be adjusted in case of use as a Diesel type engine to efl'ect higher compression.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a rotary engine, a casing, a rotor in the casing forming therewith inner and outer concentric chambers on each side of the rotor having inlet and outlet ports and a passage between the chambers, and an inner piston and an outer piston slidable in the rotor for respectively compressing gas alternately in the inner chambers and alternately receiving the impulse of exploded gas in the outer chambers, said pistons having valves fixed thereto for controlling movement of gases through said passage.

2. A rotary engine comprising mated housing members forming a casing and having spaced circular cam tracks, a rotor rotatable in the casing and forming therewith inner and outer arcuate chambers, pistons slidable in the rotor and moving on said tracks, the housing members having gas in lets to the inner chambers and outlet ports from the outer chambers, the rotor having a port for transfer of gas from an inner to an .outer chamber, said pistons controlling flow of gas through the transfer port, and means for igniting gas in the outer chambers to operate against the outer piston for propelling the rotor and moving the inner pisgon for compressing gas in the inner chamers.

3. A rotary engine comprising mated housing members forming a casing and having spaced circular cam tracks, a rotor rotatable in the casing and forming therewith inner and outer arcuate chambers, pistons slidable in the rotor and moving on said tracks, the housing members having gas inlets to the inner chambers and outlet ports from the outer chambers, the rotor having a port for transfer of gas from an inner to an outer chamber, valves controlled by said pistons controlling flow of gas through the transfer port, and means for igniting gas in the outer chambers to operate against the outer piston for propelling the rotor and moving the inner piston for compressing gas in the inner chambers.

4. A rotary engine comprising mated housing members having annular grooves forming circular walls, the faces of the walls being arcuate to provide cam tracks, a rotor having circular flanges operating in said grooves and cooperating with the housing members to form inner compression chambers and outer explosion chambers, pistons slidable in the rotor and moving circularly on said tracks, the housing members having gas inlets to the inner chambers and outlet ports from the outer chambers, the rotor having a port for transfer of gas from inner to outer chambers, said pistons controlling flow of gas through the transfer port, and means for igniting gas in the outer chambers to operate against the outer piston for propelling the rotor and moving the inner piston in a circular path to compress gas in the inner chambers.

5. In a rotary engine including mated housing members forming a casing and having circularly extending cam tracks, and a rotor rotatable in the case,'and forming therewith a plurality of chambers, the tracks being the floors of the chambers,-pistons slidable in the rotor having spring-pressed heads constantly engaging the tracks, the housing members having gas inlets and gas outlets, the rotor having a port for transfer of gas from one chamber to another, said pistons controlling flow of gas through the transfer port, means for igniting gas in one chamber to operate against a piston for propelling the rotor and moving the other piston for compressing gas in the other chamber.

'6. In an engine of the character described, a fixed case, a rotatable shaft extending through the casing, a rotor in the casing keyed to the shaft, the rotor and casing forming concentric chambers having arcuate floors, the case being provided with inlet and outlet ports, a piston movable by the disk in the inner chamber in engagement with the floor thereof to compress gas admitted through the inlet port, the rotor having a port for transfer of compressed gas from the inner chamber to the outer chamber, a' piston slidable in the outer chamber on the arcuate floor thereof, said pistons controlling flow of gas through said port, means for delivering a spark to the outer chamber to ignite compressed gas therein for propelling the outer piston and moving the rotor, and means effecting reciprocation of the pistons upon rotation of the rotor to open and close the transfer port.

7. In an engine of the character described, a fixed case, a rotatable shaft extending through the casing, a rotor in the casing keyed to the shaft. the rotor and easing forming concentric chambers having arcuate floors, the case being provided with inlet and outlet ports, a piston movable by the disk in the inner chamber in engagement with the floor thereof to compress gas admitted-through the inlet port, the rotor having a port for transfer of compressed gas from the inner chamber to the outer chamber, a piston slidable in the outer chamber on the arcuate floor thereof. means including said pistons controlling flow of gas through said port, means for delivering a spark to the outer chamber to ignite compressed gas therein for propelling the outer piston. and moving the rotor,

and means effecting reciprocation of the pistons upon rotation of the rotor to open and close the transfer port.

8. In combination with a rotatable shaft, a fixed casing including a body grooved to provide annular inner and outer walls, said walls having cam faces forming the floors of inner and outer chambers and being provided with inlet and outlet ports, the shaft extending through the case, a disk keyed to the shaft? having annular concentric flanges on one surface operating in said grooves and forming with the body inner and outer chambers, a piston reciprocating in the disk and having a hcad-slidably engaging said inner wall floor to compress gas admitted through the inlet port to the inner chamber, the. rotor having a port for transfer of compressed gas from the inner chamber to the outer chamber, a second piston reciprocating in the disk and having a head slidable on said outer wall in the outer chamber, said pistons having notches adapted to register With said port upon reciprocation of the pistons in the disk to admit gas to the outer chamber, means for delivering a spark to the outer chamber to ignite compressed gas therein for propelling the outer piston and moving the rotor, and means effecting reciprocation of the pistons upon rotation of the rotor.

9. In a rotary engine, mated housing members having inner and outer concentric walls provided with arcuate faces and forming annular grooves, the high points of arcuate faces on one member being circumferentially offset with reference to the corresponding high points on the arcuate faces on the other member, a rotor comprising a disk having concentric flanges on each face operable in said grooves, said rotor cooperating with the housing members to form inner and outer chambers on each side of the rotor, said members having inlet ports communicating with the inner chambers, and outlet ports communicating with the outer chambers, the disk having openings between the flanges, one flange having a port for transfer of gas from the inner chamber to the outer chamber, and inner and outer pistons slidable in said openings alternately into and out of corresponding inner and outer chambers, said pistons moving on said arcuate faces, means for igniting gas in the outer chamber to bear against the outer piston and rotate the rotor, and move the inner piston to compress gas in the inner chambers.

10. In a rotary engine, mated housing members having inner and outer concentric walls provided with arcuate faces and forming annular grooves, the high points of arcuate faces on one member being circumferentially offset with reference to the corresponding arcuate faces on the other member, a rotor comprising a disk having concentric flanges on each face operable in said grooves, said rotor cooperating with the housing members to form inner and outer chambers on each side of the rotor, said members having inlet ports communicating with the inner chambers, and outlet ports communicating with the outer chambers, the disk having openings between the flanges, one flange having a port for transfer of gas from the inner chamber to the outer chamber, inner and outer pistons slidable in said 0 enings alternately into and out of correspon ing inner and outer chambers, said pistons being adapted to move on said cam faces, means including portions of the pistons controlling movement of as through said port, an means for igniting gas in the outer chamber to bear against the outer piston and rotate the rotor, and move the inner piston to compress as in the inner chambers.

11. n a rotary engine, mated housing members comprising disks, each having 1nner and outer concentric walls forming annular grooves and having cam faces, the cam faces on one member being circumferentially offset with reference to the corresponding cam faces of the other member, a rotor comprising a disk having concentric inner and outer grooved flanges on each face operable in said ooves, said rotor cooperating with the housing members to form inner and outer arcuate chambers on each side of the rotor, and engaging the cam faces at their high points, said members having inlet ports communicating with the inner chambers, and having outlet ortscommunicating with the outer chamers, the rotor having through openings between the flanges, one flange having a port communicating with the grooves of the flangesfor transfer of as from the inner chambers to the outer c ambers, inner and outer pistons slidable in said openings and said flange grooves alternately into and out of corresponding inner and outer chambers,

said pistons constantly engaging said cam faces of the walls for sealingly dividing the chambers into receiving and discharging portions when the pistons are spaced from the high points of the walls, and means for igniting gas in the outer chambers to bear against the outer piston and rotate the rotor, vand move the inner piston to compress gas in the inner chambers, said inlets and outlets being located to admit gases behind the moving pistons.

12. In a rotary engine, a casing and a rotor in the casing forming therewith compression and explosion chambers, said casing having an arcuate recess in one face and a pluralit of openings in the bottom of the recess a fording communication between said recess and the combustion chamber, a plate located in said recess, resilient means for spacing the plate from the bottom of the recess to form a pressure relief chamber, a second plate connected to the casing and covering the recess, and movable meansmounted in said second named plate and bearing against the first named plate to adjust the effective area of said relief chamber.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures.

ALBERT F. BEALS. ELMER E. PUDGE. FREDERICK A. PUDGE. 

